Facebook has just announced that their virtual reality (VR) oriented feature Spaces will now be compatible with HTC Vive headsets.
Spaces is a Facebook feature that lets users "hang out" with other people on Facebook through the use of virtual spaces. It was only originally available for Oculus Rift users but now has extended that availability to the HTC Vive.
According to the social media company, they will further extend Spaces' compatibility to other VR platforms and headsets.
"It's only the beginning: We're working to bring Facebook Spaces to even more VR platforms and devices in the future, so stay tuned," the official announcement stated.
The feature aims to integrate the social aspects of Facebook with the immersive features afforded by virtual reality platforms. Spaces enable users to create their own avatar and play games, as well as make Messenger video calls.
Of course, users can also share photos and videos through the feature.
Spaces also recently incorporated called a function called "3D posts." These are 3D objects that can be created and interacted with in the virtual space. The objects can be designed within Spaces, but the final post can be shared on the Facebook platform, as well.
Although Spaces can naturally be used as a more immersive way to meet new people, it was not intended to be as such. Rachel Franklin, the developer of the VR feature, said that Spaces is "not about meeting up with strangers to get to know each other."
Instead, Franklin said that the development of the app came from a family-oriented perspective. "We're starting from a place of friends and family. That was an interesting launch point," the developer said.
Franklin added that the app aims to take that existing familial relationship and "enhance" it through the use of the various features in Spaces.
Facebook Spaces first debuted in April this year, and the HTC Vive availability is their first major expansion to another platform.
